Comorbid ADHD and Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder associated with attention deficits.
• These attention deficits suggest an increased risk for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in affected youth.
• Current routine care may not adequately identify ADHD in children with SCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of ADHD in a clinic-based sample of children with SCD.
• To explore factors associated with ADHD in this population.
• To evaluate the potential for screening ADHD in hematology settings.

Main Methods:

• Systematic screening of 107 children (ages 7-11) with SCD for inattentive ADHD symptoms.
• Follow-up diagnostic procedures for children with elevated symptoms.
• Analysis of biomedical and social-environmental variables from screening and medical records.

Main Results:

• Twenty-six percent of children with SCD exhibited elevated inattentive symptoms.
• Thirteen percent met diagnostic criteria for ADHD, with 75% of these undiagnosed previously.
• Chronic inflammation was associated with ADHD, while disease severity and family functioning showed different relationships with symptoms versus diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• Children with SCD have a high prevalence of ADHD, with a significant number undiagnosed.
• Screening for ADHD within hematology care is a potentially feasible strategy.
• Improved identification and access to intervention for ADHD in youth with SCD is warranted.